On Feb 15, 2:07*pm, F news@nowhere wrote:
On 06/02/2012 12:31 F wrote:

Management is concerned that the goldfish in the pond are, as last year,
going to die if the pond is frozen over for anything more than a few
hours, so it looks as though I need a heater, a thermostat to turn the
heater on when the temperature drops to ~0ºC, and an outdoor socket.

Toolstation do a suitable socket
(http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p77440), Seapets sell a heater
(http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/po...nt/pond-l....),
but I can't find a thermostat.

Anyone able to suggest a source for the thermostat? Comments on the
socket and heater would also be welcome.

Thanks for the contributions and suggestions. I have installed the
socket from Toolstation and the Blagdon heater.

Following comments here and elsewhere about the value of a waterfall in
cold conditions, we're thinking of installing one (only short, ~1M
long). Has anyone any suggestions on a suitable pump and pre-formed
waterfall? The pond is 2M x 1.5M x 0.75M deep.

Suggestions on any associated equipment that would eliminate/reduce the
green pea soup we currently experience in summer would also be welcome,
along with suggestions for suppliers. The Seapets experience was less
than inspiring with telephone requests for advice being met with great
vagueness and emails being ignored.

Assuming you mean a carpet of duckweed, this can be minimised by
flowing water, preferably a fountain which will keep an area clear of
it. Frequent scooping out with a kitchen strainer also helps a lot.

Doug.